The Credit River Catholic Cemetery is operated by the Credit River Cemetery Association and has no affiliation with the City of Credit River.

History of the Credit River Catholic Cemetery

(Also Known as St. Peter’s Cemetery)

Author Unknown

In February of 1859 Edward Haugh conveyed to Father Augustine Ravoux, Administrator for the Diocese of St. Paul, two and a half acres of land. At the same time, land was given to Father Ravoux by the Cornelius Cleary family. In 1875 two deeds were given to the Right Reverend Thomas L. Grace, Bishop of St. Paul by John Cleary and his wife, and Thomas Cleary and his wife. These deeds conveyed the same two and a half acres conveyed earlier by Edward Haugh and seven- and one-half acres of the Cleary property to the church. (Book F- p333 of Scott County Deeds).

In 1859 work was begun on a log church and a home for a priest and both were completed in 1860. A cemetery was established adjacent to the church. Prior to this time burials took place at a spot near the lake called Fleming’s field, on the Michael Fleming property to the west and north of the present site. These were moved to the cemetery after it was laid out. Some of these are unknown today as the old markers crumbled or sank into the ground. The earliest stone left is from 1863. No written records remain prior to the mid 1920’s. The first log church burned about 1870 and the rectory at a later date. However, some of the earliest birth and marriage records are preserved at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Prior Lake.

In 1894 Bishop Grace conveyed the ten acres back to the Church of St. Peter. In 1926, when the Credit River Cemetery Association was formed by the parishioners and Father John Deere, the three-acre trust was returned to the group. This group consisted of Arch-Bishop Dowling’s representatives, Paul Daggett, William J. Casey, John Deegan, and William Simpkins. The cemetery was re-surveyed by James Faricy, and John Cleary. A perpetual Care Fund was established.

The cemetery is on high ground and overlooks a small lake and the Cleary Lake Regional Park, which itself encompasses the land once owned by the Fleming, Cleary, Haugh, O’Brien, and Savage families.